It may have been a short week, but a busy one nonetheless. There was certainly some excitement and air of anticipation with the final meeting of the families of the students who are set to embark on the trip to Spain next week.

It is certainly time for reflection as we head into the Easter break and as always we are so grateful for the dedication of our Chaplain Rev Chris in nurturing the spiritual growth and care of our school community.

This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to host three international students from Japan, weaving the rich tapestry of global cultures into the heart of Whitby Collegiate. Their inclusion in the full range of school activities and the warm hospitality of the Anamani (Oriana and Faustina) and Stevens (Lily) families went above and beyond, and we thank them so much for looking after our visitors.

This past week has been an exciting one for our Year 9 cohort who took on challenges outside of the classroom based at Talima Lodge in Waikanae. Our students had the opportunity to dive into a variety of activities that not only tested their physical capabilities but also strengthened their team building skills. Rafting down the rapids on Otaki was an absolute highlight as was the rock climbing, tramping and other outdoor activities which saw students learn invaluable survival skills.

At the heart of Whitby Collegiate's ethos is the concept of servant leadership, a principle that encourages individuals to lead by serving others. This principle was celebrated and reinforced at our Commissioning Assembly this week, an event that not only recognises our student leaders but also asks them to commit to their roles with integrity, humility, and dedication.

After the initial flurry of activity that marks the start of a new school year, we are pleased to see our students seamlessly settling into the rhythm of their academic and extracurricular engagements.

This week the highlight has without doubt been the school’s annual Athletics Day on Wednesday. We saw a marked increase in participation rates, and high levels of school spirit on display as students cheered their Houses on.

It is hard to believe that it is the end of the week already and without a doubt the highlight was the outstanding success of yesterday's Parents Meet & Greet BBQ. The event marked a significant moment for our school, celebrating not only the start of a new academic year but also the wonderful expansion of our community with the addition of many new families.

As the new academic year unfolds, we extend a warm welcome to all our students, faculty, and community at Whitby Collegiate. The beginning of a new year is always filled with excitement, aspirations, and a renewed dedication to excellence.

Based on the provisional academic results for 2023, Whitby Collegiate is poised to once again be recognised as one of the top academic schools in the country. Continuing to build on its previous academic success, Whitby Collegiate recently announced provisional NCEA results from 2023.

As we approach the end of another remarkable year, we take a moment to reflect on the journey we've shared and the accomplishments that have shaped our school's narrative. Filled with gratitude, we extend our appreciation to everyone who has been an integral part of our school's success story.

As the academic year draws to a close, we approach the culmination of exams and farewell to our Year 13 students. Their dedication and hard work have been commendable, and we're proud to celebrate their achievements and bid them farewell at the upcoming Leavers Dinner tonight.

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, the energy and enthusiasm of our students in various activities continue to impress us. We're proud to witness their dedication and involvement across numerous pursuits.

Week one of external exams has been successfully completed and on touching base with students they have been well prepared and quietly confident in their performances. Despite some glitches from NZQA our students have proven to be calm under fire and any issues arising Mrs Mitchell has dealt with the relevant authorities.

Such a celebration on Saturday night at the Whitby Collegiate Foundation Gala Dinner. We were so blessed to have such a large number of family, friends and supporters of the school at the event to enjoy an evening of acknowledgement of the achievements of the school and to support the Foundation’s commitment to some of our families who may be facing some adversity at this time through the bursary programme.

We farewelled our senior students at the last full school assembly of the year for 2023 and how quickly this has come around. It was wonderful to hear our senior student leaders reflect on their year and even gratifying were the tributes from the junior school as they acknowledged the impact that the seniors have had on their time at Whitby Collegiate. 

What a great way to wrap up a busy week watching our Year 7 students showcasing their scientific prowess as they launched their rockets across the school field. The enthusiasm, creativity and innovation displayed was inspiring particularly the design and execution of their rockets.

Welcome back to the final term of the year. It's fantastic to see all our students back, recharged and ready for the challenges this term holds. We hope you had a wonderful holiday break and are geared up for the last leg of this academic year.

As we approach the end of another successful term, we have certainly had some wonderful activities that our students have been involved in over the past week.

As we head into the last week of the term celebrating te wiki o te reo Māori, it is hard to believe how close we are to the end of the year. Senior students have completed their derived grade exams, marking an important milestone.

It is very hard to know where to start after the huge amount of activity and engagements that our students have been involved in over the last weekend and this week.

Congratulations to all the Year 7 entrants for their remarkable achievements in the NIWA Science Fair competition. It is inspiring to see their dedication and hard work pay off.

A very busy week for Whitby Collegiate. We were delighted to welcome a delegation from the Athlete Sports Competition Bureau in Osaka, Japan, and the Pearls Professional Rugby Club. This visit was to launch an official exchange programme hosting students from Japan next year and to provide reciprocal arrangements for our students in Japan.

It has been a settled and productive week here at Whitby Collegiate, students have been diligently working through their academic studies. We have continued our involvement in the ICAS (International Competition and Assessment in Schools) examinations this week with students completing English and we look forward to those upcoming results.

A very proud week for Whitby Collegiate this week with a large number of activities and achievements that our students have been involved with.

It was a great way to start the week with a wonderful turnout of parents for the Clash of the Generations on Monday night. We saw some friendly but fierce competition, an opportunity to share some fellowship, as well as another opportunity to connect as a parent group. An enormous vote of thanks to the Parents’ Association for such a wonderful initiative.